Page 69 - Living Light 86

Thursday November 21 - Honour leaders
Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority...
Hebrews 13:17
Today’s media considers it fair game to seek to bring down our leaders, seeing them as there to be shot at! As Christians we should have a different mindset, choosing to remember our leaders in prayer, to have confidence in them and imitate their faith. Of course, this puts an onus on leaders to lead in Christ-like ways, setting a good example for the flock in virtue, servanthood and fruitfulness. Having said that, we are not called to follow blindly, sacrificing what’s right on the altar of obedience. In the case of error we have been given a prescribed way of dealing with it (Matthew 18:15-17), overarched by love and honour for God.
I was a pastor for almost 30 years; needless to say I made many mistakes and experienced highs and lows, but what sustained me throughout was love. Yes, the love of God, but also the love of the fellowship. There were a few difficult occasions when grace did not abound, but thankfully they were few and far between.
The enemy of the church wants to pull our leaders down. Let’s not assist Satan but fervently pray, honour and encourage those whom God has placed in authority over us. It’s then, ‘when God’s people live together in unity... the Lord bestows his blessing...’ (Psalm 133:1-3). May it be!
Father, please forgive me when my attitude towards leaders has been wrong. May I see them as you see them, so their work will be a joy, not a burden. Amen.
Friday November 22 - Sacrifice of praise
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of
praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15
Hebrews has much to say about sacrifice. Thankfully, Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary rendered ritual animal sacrifice redundant (Hebrews 7:27). Today, we are called to make a different kind of sacrifice to God on a different kind of altar: a sacrifice of praise on the altar of our hearts.
On the occasions when I praise God despite not wanting to, such praise becomes a sacrifice. I sacrifice my priorities, my feelings, my pride and my ego. King David declined the opportunity to worship without personal expense, telling Araunah, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). Abel was obedient in offering God the first and best of his flock. Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his only son Isaac in obedience to God. The reality is that God will bring fire down only on an altar that bears a sacrifice! When we lay our self-life on the altar, then and only then can we join with Paul in saying, ‘I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live...’ (Galatians 2:20).
Praise is powerful – it silences the devil (Psalm 8:2) and frees us to enjoy God’s presence (Psalm 22:3). Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, has completely satisfied the righteous requirements of the Law. The Cross is our sufficiency; there can be but one response: unreserved gratitude, praise and obedience. Let’s pray...
Father God, take my life and let it be a sweet-smelling offering, bringing you great pleasure. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
67